Ike's maximum sustained winds have dropped to near 125 mph as of 5 a.m. EDT Friday, and are expected to continue weakening over the weekend. Nevertheless, Ike remains a dangerous hurricane capable of causing major damage, says the NHC, which expects Ike to briefly weaken further to a Category 2 hurricane in about 24 hours before regaining Category 3 strength in 36 hours and Category 4 strength in 72 hours before reaching the Florida coast.
The eye of the hurricane is located about 460 miles north of the Leeward Islands and moving west near 15 mph.
The NHC says that by Sunday, Ike could be approaching the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas.
The major weather models, including the NHC, forecast Ike would reach Florida or Cuba over the next five days. It is too soon to say whether the storm will reach Gulf of Mexico or turn north and follow Tropical Storm Hanna up the U.S. East Coast.